A friend in need in calamity-hit Uttarakhand

Haridwar: Six women friends have come all the way from Nagpur to help their friend to trace his parents who are still missing in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand.

"We were friends in college and remained in touch. When we got to know that his parents are missing, we came here to help out. He is in a distraught state, so we are taking his parents photographs everywhere - from relief camps to hospitals. So far we have not heard anything," said Bhakti Amte, a student.

"But we are hopeful. We will not leave him in this situation," she said.

While people from across the country desperately search for their near and dear ones, the locals seem to be benefitting from the facilities being extended to them.

As many states have started free bus services to carry those rescued in the Uttarakhand devastation, it is the locals who are gaining from it.

Many locals are taking these buses to reach Haridwar and other places.